GLEN LEITH COLLEGE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23044, 21 November 1936, Page 9

GLEN LEITH COLLEGE

GRADUATION SERVICE tThe Churches of Christ Theological College graduation service held on Thursday evening, marked the close of the first decade of the work of the Churches of Christ Theological College at Glen Leith. There was a large and appreciative attendance at St. Andrew Street Church. Mr W. King, chairman of the College Committee, presided and was assisted in the devotional exercises by Mr R. T. Wright, president of the Otago district conference, and Mr W. T. Wilson, previous chairman. Mr King read greetings and congratulatory telegrams from many parts of New- Zealand and letters from churches where graduates had been ministering, which eulogised the great work the college was doing for the church. In his address the chairman expressed appreciation of the work of the principal and staff in training students, fostering the college work throughout the Dominion, taking financial oversight, - and accepting full charge of two suburban churches. “These various activities make the lives! of these men very strenuous indeed, but it must be most encouraging to the faculty as it is to us. to know that the college has had an increasing place in the esteem of the churches as its work has become better known through graduates settling in all provinces.” The highly satisfactory work of these graduates reflected great credit on the institution and its teaching, Mr King continued. The course was as complete as it could be made and compared most favourably with these of the colleges in other parts of the world. Of the dozens of New Zealand men trained abroad there were only two who continued in the Dominion work, which substantiated the contention that New Zealand must train her own men for the ministry. The work of the year was reported on by Principal A, L. Haddon, who had been in charge of the college from its inception. He stated that the work done by students in the college, University, and churches made 1936 one of the best years to date. In Africa. Australia, and New Zealand the influence of the college was now being felt in the ministry of ex-students. Week-end church work had also been undertaken by students during their training, this helping the churches and the men both. All the exit men of this year’s group would be entering upon pastorates in the Dominion. These were Messrs D. L. Woolf, R. W. Simpson. J. O. Langford, and E. C. Light. Eleven men had been engaged on the theological course and two on university studies. Professor E. P. Aderman made the presentation of the Reid Memorial Scholarship cheque to the student who did best work in biblical subjects, and who would continue studies next year. The award went to Mr F. E. Slattery, who also gained the ex-students prize for the best research essay in New Testament. „ , .. Mr Claude Grey, elocutipnary instructor, gave a fine rendering of an appropriate elocutionary item, and items were rendered by the students as follows: —Instrumental, Messrs J O. Langford and E. C. Light; vocal solo. Mr E. L. Bradley; and quartet by Messrs Hoult, Light. James and Langford. , ~ Brief addresses were given by the exit men, who each emphasised the value that college training had been in clarifying faith, in giving a new interest in and understanding of the Bible, in the influence upon spiritual experience, and in providing opportunity for service in the work of bringing men to the way of Jesus Christ.